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The Truman Parkway - History from June 1925 to 1969

If it seems you've been hearing about the Harry S Truman Parkway forever, you're right. The parkway has been discussed in some form or another since the 1920s. The following chronology is intended to give a sense of where the parkway started, where it has been and where it is going. It is by no means an absolute, complete history.

As we approach the 'official' opening of the fifth and final phase, I thought I would give this history I've compiled over the years.

June 1925: Walter Stillwell suggested that an area, known then as Cuyler Swamp, be turned into a public park. The second of his nine suggestions is to "Build on one side of the (Casey) canal an automobile road."

1953

April: The city engineering department began a study to determine the feasibility of a dual-lane highway on each side on of the Casey Canal.

December: The report "The Case for the Casey Canal Parkway" was released. The estimated $500,000 proposed road would have one lane on each side of the improved canal with "rustic bridges or graceful arches" carrying cross streets. The proposed route was from Bee Road and Henry Street to Montgomery Crossroad.

1954

Thomas and Hutton Engineers recommended that the parkway run from Henry Street to DeRenne Avenue.

1955

January: A new report recommended that the road extend from President Street to Montgomery Crossroads. A Morning News editorial suggested that the Casey Canal Parkway be named for Dr. William Richard Waring since the proposed road would be a convenient route to the new Memorial Hospital (now Memorial Health University Center.)

April: The Metropolitan Planning Commission recommended that the city proceed with acquisition of land along the planned parkway path.

May: The city asked the Savannah Real Estate Board for an appraisal of Boulevard Park, owned by G.B. McKenzie and located along Casey Canal just north of Victory Dr., so that the land could be bought for the planned roadway.

September: The parkway plan had a projected cost of $3,250,000. The recommendation was that it be a divided highway with a two lane roads flanking the canal south of Victory Drive. The canal "would be cut in a V-shape, with a concrete base and grassy slope," with intersections only at President, Victory, DeRenne and Montgomery Crossroad.

October: The Memorial board assured the city that it would grant right-of-way access to the road.

1958

January 19: The Savannah Morning News ran a full-page article titled 'The Casey Canal: A throughway to Wassaw.' The route proposed begins at President St., following the old trolley lines to Isle of Hope, across Skidaway Island and ending on Wassaw Island. The last sentence of the article states: "Would it be out of line to suggest projecting the Casey Canal Parkway into the picture with the opening of a new decade - say, 1960?"

February: A brief in the Morning News: "When do you think this project (Casey Canal Parkway) will materialize?" asked Alderman Jack Rauers at a city council meeting. "When we're in Bonaventure Cemetery," replied Alderman Malcolm Maclean.

1960

December: Mayor Malcolm Maclean revealed plans to connect Bay with President Street by looping a new four-lane road around the Fort Jackson area.

1961

September: The plan to re-route U. S. Highway 82 brought the possibility of federal funds for the Casey Canal Parkway.

1962

January: A subcommittee of the Chamber of Commerce' Roads and Highways Committee announced it will be making a concerted effort to revived the Casey Canal Parkway plans.

March: MPC Director A. A. "Don" Mendonsa (later city manager) recommended that the city adopt a policy regarding the rights of way of the Casey Canal. Mendonsa noted that several developers had presented plans for subdivisions on the planned route. The matter was referred to city attorney James Blackburn.

April: Mayor Maclean announced that the rights-of-way were being acquired for the Bay to President Extension. He declared this the first leg of the proposed parkway.

May: The city appointed a special committee to adopt an official map ordinance outlining the proposed parkway route. The city got the final rights-of-way for the Bay to President Extension. Herbert L. Kayton informed the city that part of the canal is named after him. The portion of the canal from the Savannah River to 39th Street was named for him in 1917. The city okayed a change in route for the parkway. The change was to extend the road due south from DeRenne rather than due east toward Isle of Hope.

June: The MPC recommended against a proposed shopping center near the DeRenne-Casey area.

December: The city asked the state highway department for a study of the proposed parkway. The study would facilitate the city's ability to allot subdivisions on the planned route.

1964

July: A senatorial candidate proposed that the parkway construction could take care of flooding problems experienced by the area of Holly Heights and other lowlands.

1965

January: A city roads priority listed the Casey Canal Parkway as the number one priority. The second is to four-lane DeRenne Avenue to LaRoche Avenue.

April: MPC chairman Henry Levy requested a meeting on the parkway. He noted that several projects recommended in 1959 either have been constructed or are under way. The only two projects not yet begun are the parkway and the four-laning of DeRenne.

1968

May: Discussions began again for the 'immediate' construction of the parkway, building it as a toll road to provide financing if necessary. Several endorsements were made, including Mayor J. Curtis Lewis stating that he favored a "nominal toll" if no other funds were available. Downtown merchants also favored the road. A Savannah Morning News editorial also supported the building of the road. Another group, Citizens Advisory Committee, also endorsed the parkway. Two aldermen, D. Boyd Yarley and William Gaudry, proposed that the county create a central, countywide recreation department so city funds could be spent on building the parkway. The route most needed, according to reports, was from Montgomery Crossroad to downtown. The city applied for federal funds despite cutbacks caused by the war in Vietnam.

June: Alderman Yarley stated that he believed construction could start and be completed in early 1969. The project was sanctioned by the State Highway Department. Mayor Lewis asked city manager Picot Floyd to appoint a city engineer to work on the technical end of the parkway.

July: Plans for the expansion of the city golf course from 18 to 27 holes are held up by the proposed parkway. The route would pass right through the area. The Research Group Inc., the city's Atlanta based advisors, stated that the parkway plan was feasible. The road could start out as a toll road, and then the outstanding bonds could be retired with federal grants.

August: Some $5 to $7 million will be needed to be raised in order to build the parkway. A 10-cent toll became likely. The proposed route was announced. The road would begin with an interchange at Randolph and President streets, down President east then curve south around Hillcrest Abbey Cemetery. It would move south parallel to Bee Road to Anderson where it would pick up the canal bed. It would continue south to Bacon Park with two interchanges at Victory Dr. and DeRenne Ave. There would be an exit ramp at Memorial for emergency traffic but no entrance ramp. At Bacon Park, the road would swing east across the end of Lovett Dr. passing the golf course on the east and going through the third hole. It would then follow the route of an old streetcar tracks. After crossing Intermediate Road, it would curves back to the canal, skirting the Shrine Temple and Memorial Stadium, ending at Montgomery Crossroad. Since the city limits extended no further at that time, the county would finish the road around Halycon Bluff, across the Vernon River, to Holland Dr., ending at Abercorn Extension.

September: The proposed toll rose from 15 to 20 cents.

October: Mayor Lewis proposed the parkway be named for Georgia Gov. Lester Maddox.

1969

January: Attempts were made to get funding from federal and state sources for purchasing rights-of-way.

April: The State Highway Board authorized a study of the divided highway.

June: State Highway Department head Jim Gillis suggested that the city build the parkway as a "faster and more economical method" of getting the road built.

August: City Manager Floyd was directed to begin negotiations with Wilbur Smith and Associate on economic feasibility and Howard, Needles, Tammen and Bergendoff on design. The cost at this point was estimated to be $29,270,000.

September: County officials were surprised to learn that the proposed route was going through the middle of Lake Mayer (officially dedicated in 1972). The alternative was the side of the lake, taking out the Southside Fire Dept. firehouse. Commission members called for meetings to work out a definite route.